Task:
Post an article or a video that discusses video game, virtual reality, or simulation ethics. What is your opinion of this article/video? What about this article intrigued you? Give your reaction to the article/video and address the ethical dilemmas presented in the article/video. Do you agree or disagree with the author/speaker? Why? What do you think the next steps are in making sure that the ethical issue(s) discussed are made safe for kids?
Journal Entry:
Johnny Soraker speaks on TedX about how video game companies are hiring psychologists to find out what gamers are spending time on in the games and what keeps gamers game. The gaming companies are trying to figure out what makes games more fun and what keeps gamers playing because then gamers are more likely to spend money on items embedded in a game. Even though psychologists have been working in the video game field for years he has concerns because of the type of learning style used in video games.
I was intrigued by how powerful operant conditioning can be for learners. He described operant conditioning by explaining a story where a pigeon learned to press a button in order to get food. Essentially the learner does a behavior and either gets a positive or a negative response which creates a pattern. As an educator I can see how powerful interactivity for learning content would be for students. However, operant conditioning can create very addictive traits. Johnny goes into detail about how video games are using operant condition to attract consumers along with the financial element, and social element. The idea of a free game makes gamers think they are working to play and then they begin to put value on the time and spend money within the game more often. Socially it is harder to tell if someone is deserving of winning because you cannot see other players in person and only on a leader board, so players are driven to beat each other.
Ethically Johnny Soraker states that psychologist need to stop being so one sided when evaluating gamers because gamers time spent may only be obsessively but not for enjoyment. I agree with him when he said that educators need to teach children about psychology at an early age. We can explain the difference between motivation and enjoyment verse being manipulated into playing more. I also have concerns about video games exploiting children through operant conditioning. We need to make sure students understand how to have a healthy balance between gaming and making sure it is enjoyable and it does not become an addiction.
Post an article or a video that discusses video game, virtual reality, or simulation ethics. What is your opinion of this article/video? What about this article intrigued you? Give your reaction to the article/video and address the ethical dilemmas presented in the article/video. Do you agree or disagree with the author/speaker? Why? What do you think the next steps are in making sure that the ethical issue(s) discussed are made safe for kids?
Journal Entry:
Johnny Soraker speaks on TedX about how video game companies are hiring psychologists to find out what gamers are spending time on in the games and what keeps gamers game. The gaming companies are trying to figure out what makes games more fun and what keeps gamers playing because then gamers are more likely to spend money on items embedded in a game. Even though psychologists have been working in the video game field for years he has concerns because of the type of learning style used in video games.
I was intrigued by how powerful operant conditioning can be for learners. He described operant conditioning by explaining a story where a pigeon learned to press a button in order to get food. Essentially the learner does a behavior and either gets a positive or a negative response which creates a pattern. As an educator I can see how powerful interactivity for learning content would be for students. However, operant conditioning can create very addictive traits. Johnny goes into detail about how video games are using operant condition to attract consumers along with the financial element, and social element. The idea of a free game makes gamers think they are working to play and then they begin to put value on the time and spend money within the game more often. Socially it is harder to tell if someone is deserving of winning because you cannot see other players in person and only on a leader board, so players are driven to beat each other.
Ethically Johnny Soraker states that psychologist need to stop being so one sided when evaluating gamers because gamers time spent may only be obsessively but not for enjoyment. I agree with him when he said that educators need to teach children about psychology at an early age. We can explain the difference between motivation and enjoyment verse being manipulated into playing more. I also have concerns about video games exploiting children through operant conditioning. We need to make sure students understand how to have a healthy balance between gaming and making sure it is enjoyable and it does not become an addiction.